Best Train Board Games of 2024: Top 6 Reviewed
Get ready to jump aboard our thrilling journey through the best train board games! We picked these gems by focusing on fun, strategy, and player interaction. Every game offers a unique ride, whether you’re connecting cities, laying tracks, or managing resources. We’ve had our fair share of laughs and heated moments around the table, testing each train game with friends. So grab your conductor hat, and let’s explore the railways of our imagination. These train adventures promise hours of enjoyment, perfect for both seasoned board gamers and newcomers. All aboard for a train-themed gaming adventure!
On this list:
6 Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride was the first train game many of us played. We spent hours fighting over railways like we were in the Wild West. It’s like Monopoly but with less bankruptcy and more tickets. The rules are simple, so new players can jump in easily. Plus, the map is a giant geography lesson, which is cool until someone points out how bad our geography really is. We love its simplicity, and the thrill of completing ticket routes keeps things exciting.
5 Railroad Ink
Railroad Ink is like train doodling with a purpose. We enjoy it because it lets us feel like we’re artists with a dice-rolling twist. Drawing connections with dry-erase markers turns any table into a masterpiece. It’s perfect for people who want a quick train game fix but without setting up a thousand tiny pieces. Whenever our nephew gets creative with the tracks, we can just wipe it away and pretend it never happened.
4 On the Underground: London/Berlin
On the Underground feels like we’re real-life commuters. I’m always annoyed when one of our friends blocks our route. It’s strategy and luck combined over a cup of tea. We find it very engaging, especially when competing for the best routes. Sometimes it feels like a maze, and we ask ourselves if we need a GPS. But the fun comes from beating our friends’ strategies while they try to do the same.
3 The Transcontinental
This game takes us on a historical train ride across Canada. It’s got a bit of history and strategy. We enjoy pretending to be pioneers, making progress despite obstacles. It’s like a race, but with more resources and less running. Players work together while still trying to outdo each other, which makes family game night a mix of cooperation and rivalry. We love the stories that come out of each game.
2 Steam: Rails to Riches
Steam is like a train simulator in a board game. We love it, because it gets competitive fast. The way the economy works makes us feel like stockbrokers and train engineers at the same time. The game has a learning curve, but once we’re into it, we can’t stop. It’s about making the best routes and managing resources. More than once, we’ve been so focused that we’ve almost missed lunch.
1 The Great Western Trail
The Great Western Trail earns the top spot by a landslide. It’s a cowboy-train mash-up that has us rounding up cattle and sending them off on trains. The game brings out our inner strategy geniuses as we try to outthink everyone else. It’s like a chess game, but with trains and cows. We love it because it balances strategy, planning, and a bit of cowboy flair. After all, nothing beats shouting yee-haw when your herd goes to market.
